Portable pipe vise



y 31, 1955 T. J. HARRIS 2,709,384

PORTABLE PIPE VISE Filed June 24, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. 77/0/ 145 J. H/MFAS "@zzl gm May 31, 1955 T. J. HARRIS PORTABLE PIPE VISE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 24, 1954 m R mm J m w H V. B I 3 a W W m. n

2,769,384 Patented May 31, 1955 ice '2,7e9,3s4 PonTAnLE PIPE vrsn Thomas J. Harris, Forty-Fort, Pa. Application June 24, 1954, Serial No. 439,035 11 Claims. (Cl. 81-41) This invention relates to pipe vises, and more particularly to a portable pipe vise.

There are a variety of pipe vises on the market today all of which, while they serve their intend-ed purposes, possess inherent disadvantages which the present invention is designed to overcome. Some of these vises are fixed installations requiring that they be fixedly secured in a suitable location, such as a work bench, making them highly impractical for portable usage, as is required by plumbers and pipe fitters. Other of these vises are portable, but are found to be heavy and therefore burdensome for a plumber to carry about, especially when he must climb several flights of stairs. In addition, currently available portable pipe vises are rather intricate in design, contributing to the cost thereof and the length of time required for assembling said vises at the work site. It has also been found that the presently available portable pipe vises have a tendency to ride or slip about the floor while threads are being cut in pipe held thereby.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improved portable pipe vise.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved portable pipe vise which is light in weight, requiring a minimum of physical exertion to carry it about.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved portable pipe vise which is of such simple construction as to be capable of assembly, ready for use, in a few seconds.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved portable pipe vise which will resist any tendency to slide about the floor While cutting pipe threads therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lowcost portable pipe vise.

These objects, together with other objects and advantages to be derived in utilizing the present invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description and from the accompanying drawings describing the preferred embodiment of this invention in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the portable pipe vise of this invention in assembled position ready for use.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the portable pipe vise in a folded, disassembled condition, illustrating the manner in which it may be carried about.

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of the vise-portion of the present portable pipe vise, partly in section and with parts broken away, and showing the vise legs in an unlocked position.

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the vise-portion shown in Figure 3, partly in section and with parts broken away, showing the vise legs in an unlocked position, and illustrating the telescoping pipesupport member.

Figure 5 is an enlarged front elevational view of the present portable pipe vise, with parts broken away, showing a pipe being held thereby, and illustrating the manner of maintaining the vise legs in a locked position.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly Figure 1 thereof, the portable pipe vise of the present invention is shown and referred to in its entirely therein by the letter V. This portable vise V consists of a vise-portion 10 supported by forwardly extending adjustable legs 11 and 12, a rearwardly extending horizontal pipe-support member 13, and a rear leg 14.

Looking now at Figures 35, it will be seen that the vise-portion 10 consists of a pair of vertically disposed tubular members 15 and 16 integrally joined near their lower ends to a cross-bar 17, and provided with a plurality of notches 18 and 19 about the peripheries of their lower ends for a purpose to be described below. Fixedly attached to the cross-bar 17 by means of screws 20, or other suitable attachment means, is a vise bed 21 having stepped-teeth 22 in its upper surface for securely gripping a pipe. Cooperating with the vise bed 21, and slidably retained between the tubular members 15 and 16 above said vise bed, is a movable head 23 having a jaw member 24 fixedly attached to the bottom thereof. The said movable head 23 is adapted for a vertical sliding movement between said tubular members 15 and 16, as guides, under the control of a threaded rod 25 which is pivotably connected thereto. This rod 25 is threadably received in a tapped yoke 26, which rests freely upon the upper ends of the tubular members 15 and 16, and is provided with a horizontally slidable handle 27 for manipulating said rod. The upper ends of the legs 11 and 12 are slidably received in the tubular members 15 and 16, and in the yoke 26 in apertures provided therefor in said yoke, and said leg ends are flared so as to provide retaining flanges 28 and 29. The legs 11 and 12 are also provided with diametrically disposed looking studs 30 and 31, located adjacent to the lower ends of the tubular members 15 and 16, and adapted to be received in the notches 18 and 19 therein for a purpose to be described below.

The rearwardly extending horizontal pipe-support member 13 consists of a horizontal tubular casing 32 integrally attached at one end to the cross-bar 17, and having a telescoping extension 33 slidably retained in the free end thereof, as shown in Figure 4. Fixedly attached to said telescoping extension 33 is a V-shaped pipe cradle 34 adapted for grasping the pipe in supporting fashion, as shown in Figure 1. Referring to Figure 4, it will be seen that the underside of the tubular casing 32 is provided with a tapped boss 35 near its free end, which threadably receives a set-screw 36 for maintaining the extension 33 in a fixed adjusted position. Integrally attached to the tubular casing 32, as by welding or other suitable attachment means, is the downwardly depending rear leg 14, above referred to. This leg, it will be noted, lies centrally of the forwardly extending adjustable legs 11 and 12, so as to provide a tripod support for the vise-portion 10 and the pipe-support member 13.

In order to preclude the present vise from riding or sliding about the floor while threads are being cut in pipe held thereby, the forwardly extending legs 11 and 12 are provided with rubber shoes 37 and 38, while the rear leg 14 carries a rubber suction cup 39 which is adapted to securely attach said leg to the floor when a downward force is exerted thereon.

vise portion of the Operation In using the present invention as a portable pipe vise, the legs 11 and 12 may be rotated rearwardly within the tubular members 15 and 16 and the vise carried about,

as shown in Figure 2, or extended forwardly in pipesupporting fashion, as shown in Figure l.

In setting-up the vise from the portable condition of Figure 2 to the supporting position of Figure l, the handle 27 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction so as to raise the movable head 23 a sutficient distance to unlock the legs 11 and 1'2. The legs are then pulled downwardly a slight distance so as to release the locking studs 30 and 31 from the notches 18 and 19, and the legs are rotated forwardly until said studs are in alignment with the notches l8 and 19 in the sides of the tubular members 15 and 16, respectively. This relationship is shown on an enlarged scale in Figures 3 and 4. Referring thereto it will be seen that with the legs 11 and 12 in a forward, unlocked position, the studs 30 and 31 are free from the notches i8 and i9, and yoke 26 rests freely upon the upper ends of the tubular members 15 and in. It will also be noted that a substantial gap exists between the fixed bed 21 and the movable head 23, and that the flanges 23 and 29 lie above the yoke 21$ with a gap therebetween.

The major advantage of the present invention, to he described now, is that the locking of the legs 11 and 12 in their forward position and the anchoring of a section of pipe within the vise-portion ll) of the vise is a simultaneous operation which is accomplished with a minimum of effort and in a minimum length of time.

A length of pipe is inserted into the vise so as to lie upon the fixed bed 21 and the cradle 34, as shown in Figure l. The telescoping extension 33 may be adjusted within the tubular casing 32 to accommodate various lengths of pipe, and maintained in a fixed adjusted position by means of the set screw 36. With the pipe thus supported, the handle 27 is turned in a clockwise direction so as to turn the threaded rod 25 within the tapped yoke 26 causing the movable head 23 to move downwardly between the tubular members 15 and 16. When the jaw member 2-?- on said movable head contacts the pipe, said head comes to rest, but the rod 25 being pivotally attached thereto will continue to turn, causing the yoke 26 to travel upwardly thereon, due to the screw action of the threaded relationship therebetween. As the yoke 26 contacts the flanges 28 and 29 in its upward travel, an upward force is exerted thereon, which force causes the legs 11 and 12 to move upwardly within the tubular members 15 and 16, seating the locking studs 36 and 31 within the notches 18 and 19. This action is illustrated clearly in Figure 5. The legs 11 and 12 are now locked in their forward, pipe-supporting position of Figure l. erted manually upon the rear leg 14 so as to cause the suction cup 35 to adhere to the floor, which force will ordinarily be supplemented by a maintaining force consisting of the Weight of the pipe and the device, and the vetrical component of the torsional force exerted in the cutting of threads on the pipe. The joint holding action of the suction cup 39 and the rubber shoes 37 and 33 precludes slippage of the device during the cutting of pipe threads.

To disassemble the vise for portable carriage, the handle 27 is rotated counterclockwise until the yoke 26 is set free of the flanges 28 and 29 and the movable head 23 is raised above the pipe. The pipe may then be removed and the telescoping extension adjusted inwardly within the casing 32 and locked therein. A downward pull may then be exerted upon the legs 11 and 12 until the locking studs 36 and 31 are free of the notches l8 and 19, whereupon the said legs are rotated rearwardly until said studs align with rearward-facing complementary notches. The handle 27 is then again rotated clockwise until said studs are raised into the notches, locking the legs 11 and 12 in the position shown in Figure 2. The vise may now be carried about in the manner shown therein.

It will be noted from the above description of the pres- A downward force may now be exout invention that a novel portable pipe vise is presented which overcomes the many disadvantages of existing vises or" this type. in particular, it has been seen that the present portable vise may be assembled with a minia mum of physical effort and in a minimum length of time. And due to the relative simplicity of the device, the total weight thereof is reduced considerably as compared with present-day portable vises, presenting an ideal portable pipe vise for use by plumbers and the like. The cost, of course, is reduced accordingly.

In addition, this vise is resistant to slippage during the cutting of pipe threads, and is readily adaptable to supporting various lengths of pipe by virtue of its telescoping pipe-supporting feature described above.

Although the present discussion of this invention has been limited to the above-described preferred embodiment, variations thereof are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore not intended that the invention be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but only to the inventive concept as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable pipe vise comprising, a pair of vertically disposed spaced parallel tubular members, complemeir tary vise parts operatively mounted between said tubular members, a pair of adjustable tubular legs rotatably mounted within said tubular members, locking means associated with said tubular legs and tubular members for locking said legs in an adjusted position relative to said members, a horizontally disposed telescoping pipesupport attached to said tubular members, and a supporting leg fixedly attached to said pipe-support.

2. A portable pipe vise comprising, a pair of vertivally disposed spaced tubular members, a cross-bar fixedly attached to said tubular members near the lower ends thereof, complementary vise parts operatively mounted between said tubular members, a pair of ad justable tubular legs rotatably mounted within said tubular members, locking means associated with said tubular legs and tubular members for locking said legs in an adjusted position relative to said members, a horizontally disposed telescoping pipe-support attached to said crossbar, and a supporting leg fixedly attached to said telescoping pipe-support.

3. A portable pipe vise comprising, a pair of vertical- 1y disposed spaced tubular members, a cross-bar integrally attached to said tubular members near the lower ends thereof and lying therebetween, a vise bed fixedly attached to said cross-bar, a movable vise head slidably mounted between said tubular members above said vise bed, vise-operating means cooperating with said tubular members for raising and lowering said movable head relative to said bed, a pair of adjustable tubular legs rotatably mounted within said tubular members, locking means associated with said tubular legs and tubular members for locking said legs in an adjusted position relative to said members, said locking means being operatively controlled by said vise-operating means, a hori- Zontally disposed extensible pipe-support attached to said cross-bar, and a supporting leg fixedly attached to said extensible pipe-support.

4. A portable pipe vise comprising, a pair of vertically disposed spaced tubular members, a cross-bar integrally attached to said tubular members near the lower ends thereof and lying therebetween, a yoke on the upper ends of said tubular members having a. tapped bore therein, a vise bed fixedly attached to said cross-bar, a movable vise head slidabiy mounted between said tubular members above said vise bed, a threaded rod pivotally attached to said vise head and threadabl'y mounted in said tapped bore, said rod being operable for raising and lowering said head relative to said bed, a pair of adjustable tubular legs rotatably mounted within said tubular members, locking means associated with said tubular legs and tubular members for locking said legs in an adjusted position relative to said members, the locking action of said locking means taking effect upon a clamping action of said movable head following a lowering of said movable head, a horizontally disposed extensible pipe-support attached to said cross-bar, and a supporting leg fixedly attached to said extensible pipe-support.

5. A portable pipe vise comprising, a pair of vertically disposed spaced tubular members, a cross-bar integrally attached to said tubular members near the lower ends thereof and lying therebetween, a yoke resting on the upper ends of said tubular members, said yoke having a pair of apertures the size of the bore of said tubular members and in alignment therewith with a tapped bore therebetween, a vise bed fixedly attached to said crossbar, a movable vise head slidably mounted between said tubular members above said vise bed, a threaded rod pivotally attached to said vise head and threadably mounted in said tapped bore, said rod being operable for raising and lowering said head relative to said bed, an operating handle on said rod, a pair of adjustable tubular legs rotatably mounted within said tubular members and extending upwardly through the apertures of said yoke, flanges on the ends of said tubular legs above said yoke, said tubular members having a plurality of notches about the peripheries of the lower ends thereof, locking studs carried by said tubular legs adjacent to said notches, said yoke exerting an upward force on said flanges upon a clamping action of said movable head following a lowering of said movable head so as to seat said studs in said notches, said seated studs locking said legs in an adjusted position relative to said tubular members, a horizontally disposed telescoping pipe-support attached to said cross-bar, and a supporting leg fixedly attached to said pipe-support.

6. A portable pipe vise comprising, a pair of vertically disposed spaced tubular members, a cross-bar integrally attached to said tubular members near the lower ends thereof and lying therebetween, a yoke resting on the upper ends of said tubular members, said yoke having a pair of apertures the size of the bore of said tubular members and in alignment therewith with a tapped bore therebetween, a vise bed fixedly attached to said crossbar, a movable vise head slidably mounted between said tubular members above said Vise bed, a threaded rod pivotally attached to said vise head and threadably mounted in said tapped bore, said rod being operable for raising and lowering said head relative to said bed, an operating handle on said rod, a pair of adjustable tubular legs rotatably mounted Within said tubular members and extending upwardly through the apertures of said yoke, flanges on the ends of said tubular legs above said yoke, said tubular members having a plurality of notches about the peripheries of the lower ends thereof, locking studs carried by said tubular legs adjacent to said notches, said yoke exerting an upward force on said flanges upon a clamping action of said movable head following a lowering of said movable head so as to seat said studs in said notches, said seated studs locking said legs in an adjusted position relative to said tubular members, a horizontally disposed tubular casing attached to said crossbar, an extensible pipe-support tube telescopically received in said casing, a pipe cradle on said pipesupport tube, locking means for said pipe-support tube, a supporting leg fixedly attached to said tubular casing, a suction cup on said supporting leg, and friction shoes on said tubular legs.

7. A portable pipe vise comprising, a vise frame, a pipe vise operatively connected to said frame and supported thereby, vise-operating means carried by said frame and operatively connected to said vise, adjustable legs attached to said vise frame, and locking means associated with said frame and legs for locking the legs in an adjusted position, said locking means being operatively controlled by said vise-operating means.

8. A portable pipe vise comprising, a pair of vertically disposed spaced tubular members, a cross-bar fixedly attached to said tubular members near the lower ends thereof, complementary vise parts operatively mounted between said tnbular members, a pair of adjustable tubular legs rotatably mounted within said tubular members, locking means associated with said tubular legs and tubular members for locking said legs in an adjusted position relative to said members, and a fixed support leg. attached to said cross-bar.

9. A portable pipe vise comprising, a pair of vertically disposed spaced tubular members, a cross-bar integrally attached to said tubular members near the lower ends thereof and lying therebetween, a vise bed fixedly attached to said cross-bar, a movable vise head slidably mounted between said tubular members above said vise bed, viseoperating means cooperating with said tubular members for raising and lowering said movable head relative to said bed, a pair of adjustable tubular legs rotatably mounted within said tubular members, locking means associated with said tubular legs and tubular members for locking said legs in an adjusted position relative to said members, said locking means being operatively controlled by said vise-operating means, and a fixed support leg attached to said cross-bar.

10. A portable pipe vise comprising, a pair of vertically disposed spaced tubular members, a cross-bar integrally attached to said tubular members near the lower ends thereof and lying therebetween, a yoke on the upper ends of said tubular members having a tapped bore therein, a vise head fixedly attached to said cross-bar, a movable vise head slidably mounted between said tubular members above said vise bed, a threaded rod pivotally attached to said vise head and threadably mounted in said tapped bore, said rod being operable for raising and lowering said head relative to said bed, a pair of adjustable tubular legs rotatably mounted within said tubular members, locking means associated with said tubular legs and tubular members for locking said legs in an adjusted position relative to said members, the locking action of said locking means taking effect upon a clamping action of said movable head following a lowering of said movable head, and a third leg fixedly attached to said cross-bar.

11. A portable pipe vise comprising, a pair of vertically disposed spaced tubular members, a cross-bar integrally attached to said tubular members near the lower ends thereof and lying therebetween, a yoke resting on the upper ends of said tubular members, said yoke having a pair of apertures the size of the bore of said tubular members and in alignment therewith with a tapped bore therebetween, a vise bed fixedly attached to said crossbar, a movable vise head slidably mounted between said tubular members above said vise bed, a threaded rod pivotally attached to said vise head and threadably mounted in said tapped bore, said rod being operable for raising and lowering said head relative to said bed, an operating handle on said rod, a pair of adjustable tubular legs rotatably mounted within said tubular members and extending upwardly through the apertures of said yoke, flanges on the ends of said tubular legs above said yoke, said tubular members having a plurality of notches about the peripheries of the lower ends thereof, locking studs carried by said tubular legs adjacent to said notches, said yoke exerting an upward force on said flanges upon a clamping action of said movable head following a lowering of said movable head so as to seat said studs in said notches, said seated studs locking said legs in an adjusted position relative to said tubular members, and a fixed support leg attached to said cross-bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,798,340 Thewes Mar. 31, 1931 1,897,449 Trowbridge Feb. 14, 1933 2,619,858 Starbuck et al Dec. 2, 1952 

